Chicken tossed with sweet apple, tangy homemade mayo and topped with slivered almonds for a nice crunch, this Apple Almond Chicken Salad will get anyone out of a lunch rut!
Disclaimer #1: Thank you to #AppleWeek Sponsors: Rodelle, Dreamfarm, Casabella, Flahavan’s Irish Oatmeal, Pryex, Chicago Cutlery, Rainier Fruit, and Veggie Wash for providing prizes for #AppleWeek free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #AppleWeek. All opinions are my own.
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This post was updated in September 2017 for #AppleWeek.
Welcome to Day 2 of #Appleweek, hosted by Carlee of Cooking with Carlee. The week started off strong with my recipe for mulled cider as well as a giveaway with prize packs from our fabulous sponsors. You can head over here to read about the prize packs. Then scroll to the bottom of this post – leave a comment on this post (and any other #AppleWeek post published today) to get an extra entry. Share the giveaway via Twitter for another extra entry.
When I was little, my mom spoiled me. She worked nights, sleeping in the morning and up by lunchtime. That meant that almost every day, Mom made me a hot lunch. No sandwiches for me and my brothers. We got pierogis and potato pancakes and mini pizzas. To this day, I still prefer a hot lunch to sandwiches. I usually resort to leftovers, soups, and frozen meals.
That being said, this chicken salad is one of the more traditional lunch items that has made it into my lunch rotation. I originally made it for a pig-in at work and loved it. The apples made the salad slightly sweet, distinguishing it from other chicken salad recipes. The mayo is tangy and homemade – but don’t let that scare you. It is easy to make and can be done in minutes. But my favorites part of this chicken salad is the almonds – I loved the crunch that the nuts given to the salad. I’ve enjoyed this chicken salad for lunch several ways: straight-up, on and English muffin and toasted bread, and on a green salad. However you choose to serve it, it won’t disappoint.
Apple Almond Chicken Salad
Adapted from The Pastry Queen p. 158-159
Yields enough for 4-6 sandwiches or salads
Ingredients for the Mayo:
Makes 1 1/2 cups of mayo
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 c. olive oil
- 2/3 c. vegetable oil
Ingredients for the Chicken Salad:
- 12 oz. cooked, shredded (or diced) chicken breasts, cooled
- 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced
- 1/2 c. diced red onion
- 1 Tbs. minced chives
- 1/4 c. parsley, chopped
- 1/2 – 3/4 c. homemade mayo
- kosher salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 c. slivered blanched almonds, toasted
Make the Mayo: In a food processor, combine eggs, yolk, salt, pepper, mustard, and lemon juice. With the mixer still running, pour oil into the plunger in the feed tube, so that oil gets added slowly and consistently. Mixture should be ready just after oil is done, or a minute after. It will be thick, but but yet mayo consistency. That came after refrigerating mayo for a couple of hours.
Store mayo in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
Make the Chicken Salad: In a large mixing bowl, toss chicken, apple, onion, chives and parsley. Add just enough mayo to bind the salad, 1/2 – 3/4 c. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Refrigerate until serving. Add almonds just before serving so that they don’t lose their crunch.
Serve on a roll, bread, English muffin (my favorite), croissant or salad, as desired.
Enter to win one of our awesome #AppleWeek prizes here:a Rafflecopter giveaway
And finally, more drool-worthy apple recipes to celebrate #AppleWeek
Apple Almond Butter Manchego Grilled Cheese from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Apple Almond Chicken Salad from Books n’ Cooks
Apple Bacon Jam from Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
Apple Cinnamon Rolls from Sew You Think You Can Cook
Apple Fritter Pie from Dad What’s 4 Dinner
Apple Nachos from Simple and Savory
Apple Pecan Chicken Salad from The Chef Next Door
Apple Turnovers from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Applesauce Cake with Soft Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting from Cooking With Carlee
Autumn Apple Sipper from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Bavarian Apple Oatmeal Streusel Cheesecake from All That’s Jas
Caramel Apple Cupcakes from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
Grilled Apple Tossed Salad from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
Mini Apple Muffins with Oatmeal Streusel Topping from Family Around the Table
Nutmeg Apple Conserve from Feeding Big
Red Cabbage with Apple from Palatable Pastime
Roasted Apple and White Cheddar Soup from 4 Sons ‘R’ Us
Sauerkraut & Sausage with Apples from House of Nash Eats
Disclaimer: Thank you to #AppleWeek Sponsors: Rodelle, Dreamfarm, Casabella, Flahavan’s Irish Oatmeal, Pryex, Chicago Cutlery, Rainier Fruit, and Veggie Wash for providing prizes for #AppleWeek free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #AppleWeek. All opinions are my own.
I love the apple/almond combo. One of my faves.
Yummy! This sounds like a delicious salad to make for lunch sometime soon.
Thanks for sharing your apple almond chicken salad recipe on the Celebrate 365 All Things Apple Blog Party – such a great dish!
Homemade mayo and everything?! I am impressed. I tend to do more hot lunches than sandwiches too, but this would be perfect for my work lunch as well. YUM!
This looks like a winner and I love it represented on an english muffin!
I tend to eat most of my sandwiches on an English muffin. 🙂
I love chicken salad with apples, but I don’t usually put almonds in it. This sounds like a wonderful lunch and I’m with you – I don’t often do sandwiches. I would much rather typically have leftovers.
I hope you enjoy it – a big batch made on the weekend definitely makes our weeks go smoother.
This looks so fresh and delicoius!
Yummy! This looks wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing at the Whimsical Wednesdays Link Party.